Behind the Curtain

Where one sees discarded bottle caps, Nigerian resident and artist El Anatsui sees transformation. "For him, the liquor-bottle cap represents the initial contact between Europe and Africa, as well as what Europe left behind in Africa," explains Akron Art Museum curator Ellen Rudolph. El Anatsui's massive curtains, featured in Gravity and Grace from June 17 to Oct. 7, are made from tens of thousands of found objects, including liquor-bottle caps, printing plates and condensed milk tins. The artist gives each venue the flexibility to hang his works as it pleases. "It allows us a lot of freedom to re-envision the work," says Rudolph. "The installation here will be unique, as it will be when it moves on." 1 S. High St., Akron, 330-376-9185, akronartmuseum.org